The African Union (AU) and the Pan African Parliament (PAP) have agreed to work more closely together in order to solve ongoing problems facing the African continent—especially those related to governance, peace, and security. The agreement was reached during a two-day meeting held at the PAP headquarters in Midrand, South Africa.
The high-level joint retreat brought together African diplomats, lawmakers, and peace experts to discuss better ways to deal with old and new challenges. It ended with a renewed commitment to improve cooperation between AU organs and African institutions.
The Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security at the African Union, Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, said during the retreat that preventing conflict is now top priority for the AU. He said this focus is tied directly to rebuilding the African economy and promoting inclusive development.
“We have highlighted issues of inclusive political participation, amplifying the parliamentary voice on issues of peace and security. We recommended that the Commission continue working with PAP and ensure there is democracy. It is the year of justice for all Africans. Conflict prevention is our number one priority anchored on economic reconstruction and development,” Ambassador Adeoye stated.
Also present at the meeting was the Chairperson of the AU Peace and Security Council, Ambassador Rebecca Amuge Otengo. She spoke on the long-standing conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which she described as “complex but solvable.”
Ambassador Otengo said, “We remain seized with the DRC matter, which is complex and dynamic, but it can be solved. It has taken over sixty years. A lot of lives have been lost. We are participating in all the processes. Heads of state and government are seized with the matter.”
The DRC conflict, one of Africa’s longest-running crises, has claimed millions of lives and displaced countless people over several decades. Its resolution has now become a major concern for both the AU and the PAP, which are determined to bring the matter to a lasting close.
President of the Pan African Parliament, Chief Fortune Charumbira, stressed that African institutions must now take bold steps to reduce violence and encourage unity across regions.
“Following this retreat, PAP will actively participate in conflict resolution. We have a robust role in pursuing these issues. We agreed to mutually reinforce each other as institutions. To ensure issues of conflict are reduced to the bare minimum. The two-day retreat has made us reconnect and reflect on how we should be working,” Chief Charumbira noted.
The retreat, which had the theme “Enhancing Institutional Synergy and Collaboration for Sustainable Peace and Security in Africa,” looked into structured frameworks for managing conflicts, rebuilding post-conflict societies, and promoting inclusive governance. Participants agreed that lasting peace must go hand-in-hand with democracy, political inclusion, and economic empowerment.
The resolutions from the Midrand retreat are expected to guide future partnerships between the AU, PAP, and other key institutions involved in Africa’s peace architecture. The goal is to create a united front against terrorism, political instability, and ethnic tensions that continue to plague various regions of the continent.
While acknowledging that the road to peace is long, both AU and PAP leaders stressed that institutional cooperation is crucial if the continent is to break free from cycles of violence and underdevelopment.
This joint AU–PAP meeting is seen as part of wider efforts to strengthen African-led solutions to African problems, reduce foreign interference, and place more trust in regional mechanisms for peacebuilding.
The delegates left Midrand with renewed energy to champion African unity and create practical solutions that will benefit citizens from Lagos to Kinshasa, and from Accra to Khartoum. They promised to take lessons from the retreat back to their governments and communities, so that words will be matched by meaningful actions.
As Africa faces new threats and old wounds, the Midrand meeting is a signal that the continent’s leaders are finally choosing cooperation over silence, and institution-building over blame games. Time will tell how far these promises will go in shaping a new chapter for African peace and prosperity.
